MARK HANNA. STEVE ELKiNs & Co.. to adopt the policy of imperialism. which would require a vast army to be kept there to dominate the people while the trusts and corporations exploit the country. The New England factories could be transferred there. and cotton could be raised and manufactured by the pauper laborers of that country. costing from 5 to 10 cents a day. with a few bosses and experts to direct it. and their products could enter the markets of Asia and China at prices that would absolutely destroy our trade. They could. by utilizing that vast army of pauper laborers. grow cotton and ship it to the United States far below the cost of production here. And I firmly believe. Mr. Chairman. that it is this great promise that excites the cupidity and avarice of the great corporations and trusts in this country. whose power is driving the present Administration madly and blindly on to the disastrous policy of imperialism and oppression. What would be the difference to our people whether we send our armies to the Orient to guard the factories and protect these heartless syndicates at public expense. while they dominate and speculate upon the people there and utilize their lands and cheap labor to destroy our foreign markets. or permit this pauper labor to come here and drive our farmers from their farms and our mechanics and laboring people from the factories and shops? Either would be equally criminal in us. We have prohibited the importation of pauper contract labor by law. And I protest that we shall not now adopt a policy that will permit our capitalists to go to the Philippines under the protection of our flag and build up a competition that will destroyour foreign markets. Such a policy would be a greivous crime against the army of burden bearers in this country.
Keywords matched
pauper labor contract labor